SOU to Showcase Student, Faculty Research and Performance Art

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(Ashland, Ore.) —Southern Oregon University is planning once again to showcase student and faculty research and performance art projects during its 9th annual Southern Oregon Arts and Research (SOAR) event, taking place May 16-20 throughout SOU’s main campus in Ashland.
A weeklong event with a program of ongoing concurrent sessions, SOAR brings together an array of disciplines, projects, and displays, with the students and faculty responsible for the work available to discuss and explain it. SOAR participants represent all areas of study at SOU, as well as the many student- and community-oriented programs organized by the University.
“This event is a wonderful experience,” said Kelsie Lawson, undergraduate alum and current MBA student at SOU. “SOAR is an opportunity to view and appreciate the collaborative works of the campus community.”
Among the demonstrations, presentations, performances, and panels to be offered during SOAR week will be “Digital Storytelling: Legends and Narratives at Play,” which will explain how a digital storytelling program at a middle school transformed the students’ learning and simultaneously transformed the SOU pre-service teachers’ understanding of teaching.
“Cascade by Colin Malloy” is a sonic exploration of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The soundscape is constructed from field recordings made at the monument and the sheet music is inspired by the landscapes surrounding it.
Other highly anticipated presentation are “Beyond the Battered Women’s Movement: Advocating for LGBTQ Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence,” and “It’s Not Sexy or Romantic: The Cultural Normalization of Stalking.” The former will focus on the unique struggles faced by LGBTQ survivors of domestic and sexual violence while the latter informs of how media normalizes stalking behavior, sending dangerous messages that perpetuate violence against women and people of all genders.
“There will also be academic presentations on topics including local organic farming, a historical analysis of the use of Indian scouts, enlistment of Native Americans by the US military, SOU becoming the first designated Bee Campus USA in the nation, and much, much more,” according to Lawson. “There truly is something for everybody during SOAR, and far too much going on to name everything.”
Admission to all SOAR events is free and open to the public, and free parking will be available campus-wide during SOAR week. For more information, and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.sou.edu/soar.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.